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Monday, June 21

Blogger UnWrapped: Blogger Gadget Title "Fix", or "Blogger, why the heck do you force me to title my gadgets now???"

You probably know I love Blogger. I use it for all of my blogs and I am also a Blogger blog designer. So imagine my horror (ok, maybe that is a bit dramatic) when suddenly late last night Blogger started forcing me to add titles to all of my gadgets on Page Elements, including html/javascript and text.

You are probably asking "why should I care?". But you might be surprised. If you add a background with a gadget html code from a site like Shabby Blogs or any of my tutorials, you now have to put a title on there like "background" or "." or "Blogger, why oh why did you do this to me???". And you will see that stupid unwanted title on your blog. And if you open an old gadget to check it out, you will be forced to add a title...

See, many html codes you add as a gadget on your Page Elements you don't want titled because they add design elements such as a slideshow header, background, buttons, and other goodies. So the last thing you want is a title on your blog taking up space. How silly would it be to have a title "Slideshow Header" over your slideshow!!! And if you post a button on your blog you don't always want a title over that button. Does your Facebook badge really need a "Facebook Badge" title?

So last night I was on a mission to figure out how to "fix" this. After spending approximately 10 minutes cursing Blogger out under my breath while glaring at the computer, I found that other people had noticed this issue. You can see my frantic question in the list.

I calmed down and looked over my template code and figured out a fix (you can read all about it on the forum) and it was a PITA but it worked. But today I checked back and found an easier if still irritating solution.

When you add a gadget that does not need a title, then simply type, in the title area

<h2></h2>

and there won't be any title. However, if you edit this gadget or add any new ones you will have to type this title in each one, every time.

Oh my... Blogger, if you read my blog, please please please don't force us to add titles to our gadgets! If I put a photo of my kid on my sidebar, I don't want to have to title it "My kid". Blogger, I have been your biggest fan so please fix this annoying issue!

Hope this post helps someone out there. :-)

Amazing giveaway tomorrow, so please check back!!! And I am also releasing many new free actions/tutorials in the next days/weeks. Look out for my new and improved Perfect Portrait, Magic Sunset, and several new B&W actions. I have been having some fun playing. ;-)

25 comments:

Does this apply just to the *new* blogger templates or is it retroactive?I change the items in my sidebar frequently and DO NOT know HTML.I've always just put up what I wanted and that was that.So do you have to open the view to HTML and add the text you indicated?

This applies to all blogger templates, new and old, where you add gadgets via your Page Elements page. And it is retroactive unfortunately. So if you open an old gadget it will force you to add a title. Rita

I think Blogger is alienating an awful lot of people... do you think they are trying to put independent blog designers out of business altogether???

I just did a post re the widgets problem and mentioned you (thought you'd like to know). Thanks to Anne for telling me, and you for solving the problem: http://1stfloorflat.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-design-template-widget-trouble.html

I wish Blogger would let alone - it's so hard to get back to the Layout page, and so many people don't WANT the Designer facility. Shame it couldn't remain a choice (like when it was in Beta).

I'm trying to learn how to fancify a couple of my blogs and now I have dumb changes to worry about? Just the commitment to blog regulary is huge for me. Thanks for keeping track of these things so I don't have to cuz' I got enough going on!

Thanks for all your research and info. about figuring out editing html and java on Blogger. I really appreciate it. I'm a webmaster at the school I work for, but dang, your knowledge on the subject of fixing my blogger blog just the way I want it makes my blogging life so much easier!!!

oh my gosh thank you, thank you, thank you! I am not a code person, I can squeek by with some things and figure it out but it is not my thing and takes me forever. what is up with blogspot all of a sudden this never used to be an issue...*Sigh* Thanks again so much for your help - I am putting a link to your blog from mine.hugs...Beth

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My name is Rita and I am a work-at-home/homeschooling Mom to two amazing boys (Duke is 14 and Imp is 11) in Texas and passionate about photography and photo-editing.

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